The Harodingian dynasty ( it, Arodingi or {{lang, it, Arodi) was a prominent
Lombard noble family which provided
Italy with two kings in the middle of the seventh century (636–653).
The Harodingians started out owning one small ''fara'' near
Brescia. Then
Rothari, son of Nanding, became Duke of Brescia and raised the fortunes of his family to great heights. In 636, he was elected to the Lombard throne. Through his marriage to
Gundiperga, widow of
Arioald and daughter of
Authari and
Theodelinda, he attained legitimacy and a connection to the ancient and illustrious
Lething and
Agilolfing families. Indeed, Gundiperga had been given the opportunity upon her husband's death to choose a new husband to reign over the Lombards. A Catholic herself, she chose the
Arian
Arianism ( grc-x-koine, Ἀρειανισμός, ) is a Christological doctrine first attributed to Arius (), a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt. Arian theology holds that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who was begotten by God t ...
but tolerant Rothari and thus changed the course of Lombard Italy and its
Papal
The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...
relations. Rothari's young son and successor,
Rodoald, was the last Harodingian and last Arian to wear the
Iron Crown. The
Bavarian dynasty replaced them and another attempt to establish a long-lasting dynasty failed.
Sources
*Jarnut, Jörg. ''Storia dei Longobardi''. Turin: Einaudi, 2002.
*Rovagnati, Sergio. ''I Longobardi''. Milan: Xenia, 2003.
Medieval royal families
Lombard families
Harodingian dynasty